A form of gambling was a favorite pastime of the Native Americans in this area, appropriate to the current proliferation of "Indian Casinos" elsewhere in the state. The miners of the Gold Rush carried on the tradition of staking everything on the hope of discovering gold or on the turn of a card. It is no wonder, then, that gaming, as we euphemistically call it, was always popular on the Peninsula.
The very formation of San Mateo County grew out of the efforts of the people of San Francisco to clean up their city. Sweeping the problems to the south and cutting us off as a separate county solved their problems. Thus it was that by 1900, the area around Colma had a reputation for corruption and violence. Any effort by our county to maintain law and order didn't seem to make it that far north.
Electric trolleys ran from San Francisco down to San Mateo starting in 1891. This facilitated ties between the City and questionable pleasures just south of the county line. As San Francisco cracked down on gambling, prize fighting and dog racing, these activities flourished here. The closer they were to the City, the more they flourished.
The largest dog track in the West was located in Daly City until a statewide ban went into effect in 1904. The dog track was then turned into a boxing arena as prize fighting went into its golden age. Between 1900 and 1910, every world lightweight champion trained and fought here. Several arenas and gyms and training camps operated in our north county area. San Mateo County was a year round gambling Mecca.
1915 brought another state law banning professional prize fighting. This caused the closure of the big fighting venues and drove the sport underground, as it had dog racing. Horse race betting was also banned by California. Just when it seemed that the state was going to ruin all the fun, the federal government gave us Prohibition.
John Marchbank had come to Daly City around 1906. Over time, he opened two roadhouses, founded a newspaper, and generally became a generous beloved citizen who played Santa at Christmas. He also ran underground operations out of the back rooms of his businesses. His newspaper's endorsement of political candidates brought him protection. Now, Prohibition introduced a new level of professionalism to vice. It helped spread eastern organized crime into the area. As the use of illegal liquor grew, so grew gambling
When Prohibition was repealed, vice and crime grew worse, as underworld connections were now entrenched. The attitude of citizens had become cynical and jaded. Links to eastern mobs were well established.
After 1934, Emilio Georgetti opened a smoke shop in South San Francisco. Through it, he controlled slot machines, liquor distribution and the bookie wires on the Peninsula. He had connections to eastern crime, and he enjoyed a close association with Sheriff McGrath. During McGrath's tenure as sheriff, there was a relaxed attitude toward gambling and drinking
Around this time, a mobster who lived in Hillsborough described San Mateo County as "the most corrupt county in California." Quite a distinction! This era passed by 1950, however, as McGrath and Marchbank died, and Georgetti decided to move to a small town in Nevada called Las Vegas.
Rediscovering the Peninsula appears in the Monday edition of the Daily Journal. For more information on this or related topics, visit the San Mateo County History Museum, 777 Hamilton St., Redwood City.
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